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Gulfport council bans boats on stretch of beach

The city hopes to discourage people from living on boats anchored offshore, but all boaters will be affected.

By PAUL SWIDER
Published December 11, 2005

GULFPORT - A minor ordinance amendment designed to manage boater behavior was the flashpoint Tuesday for a broader discussion about, as one resident phrased it, "keeping the port in Gulfport."

The city has been seeking ways to discourage people from living on dilapidated boats anchored offshore. The new law seeks to make it more difficult for such liveaboards to commute to land by dinghy.

The City Council unanimously approved creating a "swim zone" between the Gulfport Casino and Williams Pier to outlaw boaters using the beach there. The law also prevents boaters from tying dinghies to navigational signs and other public property. To soften the blow for most boaters, the city is also extending to eight hours from five the time a boat can use the docks at the end of the casino and building a dinghy dock to make it easier to use that facility. Residents agreed with the sentiment of the city's actions but said the city should also encourage good boaters.

"I don't think we're capitalizing on our waterfront," said Al Davis, a resident, boater and marine surveyor. "We are a waterfront town, but we need to manage the waterside, not just the landside."

Some told the council the new law was a hindrance. Vice Mayor Ted Phillips told the crowd the regulations were necessary to deal with decrepit boats being used as affordable housing.

"Our problem is with boats held together with Scotch tape," he said, but received a resounding chorus of boos when he followed it with: "In order to control the few, we have to control the many."

The city had considered creating a mooring field to increase its authority to manage the waterfront. The council voted that plan down this year when some residents protested, but some want it revived. They said a mooring field would create opportunity in a county where boat slips are disappearing.

Residents also complained about the city limiting occupied boats to a three-day stay. City Manager Tom Brobeil said the city has not enforced the 72-hour limit but would start soon.

Residents said allowing cruising boats to drop anchor and stay for extended periods will help business.

Davis said separately that the city's mooring field proposal failed for the wrong reasons and was never intended to be the comprehensive economic engine it could be. He said the city is acting not to create a boating economy, just to curb complaints.

"A very valuable Florida resource is going away," Davis said. "The only thing this is about is making sure Mr. Brobeil's phone doesn't ring."

[Last modified December 11, 2005, 02:15:36]